Hi friends and neighbors, The Rectortown United Methodist Church has invited us again to their annual Menorah lighting event. This year they are emphasizing the interfaith aspect and hope the greater community will be supportive. The wonderful Rabbi Rose will be our fearless leader for the Menorah ceremony. After the lighting they would like us all to sing carols by the Xmas tree. Pastor Steve and Rabbi Rose will join in remarks: "love not hate in Rectortown". I heard someone is bringing something called Yidddisha Mistletoe, ??? That should be worth coming to check out. Folks from the Fauquier Jewish Congregation and Mount Olive Church will be joining us. There will be loads of parking and ample cocoa to sustain us. This is a terrible time to try and get folks together...everybody is busy , but we have to chip away at these issues as best we can, whenever we can, and we are so grateful to our Village Church for showing this leadership. Please help us support their event. Hope to see you there. Best, Hank 5:30, 12/23, Rectortown United Methodist Church, 3049 Rectortown, Va., 20140 PS I invited our wonderful but departing 20140 postmistress, Patty, so we can thank her and give her hugs goodbye; so sad to see her go. PPSS If you would like to bring your favorite cakes or cookies that would be lovely. Thank you.

Hi neighbors and friends of R'Town, Recently I met with the folks at CTS to discuss ongoing projects.... helping in the garden, augmenting the music program, etc. Marypat, the Principal and her Assistant Principal, Mollie, quickly moved the focus to describing their immediate "crisis". They have a very sharp increase in kids with social and emotional problems. They share one social worker with 2 other schools. The teachers are trying to deal with this but are overwhelmed. They asked if we could help. They would like to set up a buddy system where a volunteer might have a one hour lunch, one day a week with a kid, or maybe 2. Of course, the Cvirus situation compounds the problem. Anyhow, if you would like to explore helping in some way please call the guidance counselor, Julia at 540 422 7696. Her email is julia.mccurrie@fcps1.org. We are looking into applying for a PATH grant to augment our afterschool Clubs, music etc.,which give the kids an important outlet. There is no school budget for that. I thought we might sponsor a joint grant with PATH. More on that later. The kids crave attention. Our traffic calming committee, Amy, Charlie and Matt, met with Corporal Shiner and there is good news on speeding, and not so good news on tractor trailer issues. If you want a copy of the report contact Matt at...matt.calligan@gmail.com The punch line...in the recent test, average speed on RTown Rd. is 28mph. Not bad. Also, there has been a 30% reduction in speeding tickets from 2018/2019. The test on Atoka is in process. Tractor trailers have broad latitude by VDOT to use these roads. Our folks are looking into having Google and Apple give more appropriate roads on their navigation apps. Changing VDOT regs pits us against the truckers lobby but may be worth a shot. If you have wisdom on that let us know. Thank you Amy, Charlie and Matt. Please call Julia and see how you might help the kids. Thank you, Hank

Hi neighbors, I hope you all are hangin' in. This is going to old neighbors, no offense, new neighbors and others who have been involved in the subject matter. If you would like to get off this list; just fire back. BTW, there is a $1000 fee for our kitty to be removed. Lucky: Our old pal Lucky passed away. For 14 years she helped our traffic calming efforts by strolling across Maidstone and Rectortown roads as she pleased, just staring down the traffic. She has been a great friend and neighbor, coming by often to check on us. Condolences to Ted and Ede. Food Program for the Claude Thompson Kids: Many donors have asked about our program to provide weekend meals to 40 needy School families. The Fauquier Fish program has taken that over and is doing a great job. If you would like to support their general program you can send a check to them...just note the Power Pack Program. Fauquier Fish 24 Pelham St. Warrenton, Va. 20188 We focus on our School's programs, providing trips downtown for many of the kids who have never been to DC, establishing a vegetable garden with a generous assist from the Fauquier Loudoun Garden Club, augmenting the arts program with supplies, etc. If you would like to add to our general fund for the School just send a check to : Friends of Rectortown, PO Box 333, Rectortown Va, 20140, made out to Friends of Rectortown, Claude Thompson School account. Our tax number is 90-0064878 Right now the School is in crisis mode just trying to teach the kids at home the 3 R's, competing with their video games, playful pups, random napping and some activities the School asked me not to mention. Rosenwald Historic Marker. Some of you may know that we worked with the African American Historical Association of Fauquier County and folks from Mt. Olive Church to install a marker near the School to commemorate the site and history of the old segregated #12 School. Julius Rosenwald, CEO of Sears, in partnership with Booker T. Washington, sponsored and built 5000 of these schools around the Country and several were here in our County...I believe there were 8. It took forever to get all the required approvals from the State, County, School Board, School, VDot, Parks and Recreation and others. It took so long that the information on the marker is no longer current. A neighbor, Bad Brad Ryder, and a great School Dad, Luis Alvarez, pushed us over the finish line with skillful digging and rivet pounding. Stop by, take a look and read all about it...near the basketball court. Xmas Tree and Menorah Lighting. We have renewed our annual tradition, with the Rectorotown Methodist Church, lighting the Community Xmas tree and Menorah. We skipped the usual festivities and a prominent neighbor said he missed his annual hora dance with Rabbi Rose. She sends her greetings to all. Traffic Calming and Fiber. This email is too long already. Please contact Matt if you want an update on those subjects. I can tell you one technique that has worked is the spectacular display of Dahlias by Maria. Everybody slows down to gape. VDot says she is creating a hazard but we hope Maria will persist, save those suckers and continue the show next year. I understand our committee is considering a mixture of broken glass, nails and self help potholes but please, committee, rethink that one. Sorry to be so long and excuse the craziness, What do you expect when most of my emails are from the Virginia Cremation Society. Best, Hank